Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 3, 1993 TAG: 9309260236
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: D-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by HARRIET LITTLE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Deception" is a romantic "bodice-ripper" in the grand tradition. In her latest novel, Amanda Quick provides enough romance, danger, adventure, sex and deception to please the most avid fan of the genre.
A secret diary kept by the wife of a dashing buccaneer begins the plot. Several generations later, descendants of Captain Jack Ryder are eager to locate the treasure supposedly buried by their ancestor on an island in the West Indies. The diary, however, happens to be in the possession of a "five-and- twenty" young woman, something of a "bluestocking," in a rural area of England. Jared Ryder, in trying to follow the diary and its secrets, offers his services to Miss Olympia Wingfield's uncle in the delivery of a shipment of goods to that lady. To insinuate himself into her very unusual household, Jared pretends to be a tutor, hired already by her uncle, to Olympia's three unruly orphaned nephews who are badly in need of supervision.
Believing the piratical-looking "Mr. Chillhurst" to be a tutor, Olympia gladly accepts his services.
Any fan of romantic novels can already see the attachment developing between the pair and will also predict the problems ahead. One of these, unknown to Olympia but already made clear to the reader, is the fact that Jared Ryder is Viscount Chillhurst, heir to the Earl of Flamecrest - hardly likely to be in the employment of plain Miss Wingfield.
The puzzle of the diary fascinates and the characters engage as the plot races on, filled with ancient quarrels, foreboding hints and romance, romance, romance.
Harriet Little teaches at James River high school.
by CNB